WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University women's basketball team completed its 2005-06 USA South Conference home slate in style Monday afternoon with a 69-61 victory over Averett University.

The win allows SU (8-14, 4-8 USA South) to even the season series with the Lady Cougars and brings the two teams into a sixth place tie in the league. Averett (10-13, 4-8) still holds tie-breaking edge based on its victory over Greensboro earlier in the season.

AU took a 32-26 lead into the lockerroom but saw its hosts get back into the contest with a 6-2 run over the first 94 seconds of the second. Averett answered this run with a Tiffany DeLoach three-pointer, but Spice Suddarth knocked a three-ball on top of DeLoach's and the two teams stayed within three points for the next 9:52.

The game was tied three times and exchanged hands three more times before Shenandoah pulled away on the strength of an 11-1 run from the 10:09 to 5:59 marks. The Lady Cougars cold shooting didn't help during this run – after DeLoach converted a layup at the 10:58 mark they did not score another field goal until DeLoach hit another layup with 1:38 to play. They missed 11 shots and turned the ball over eight times as SU went from down three to a 68-59 lead.

Junior Alicia Sanders began her season ending run at 1000 career points with a game-high 22 points. She is now 73 points from the barrier with at least four games to play.

Classmate Cassie Womack added 10 points and 14 rebounds while Spice Suddarth added 15 off the bench.

CeCe Carter had 11 points and DeLoatch 10 for Averett.

Box Score/Play by Play 

Shenandoah is back in action in its home finale on Wednesday night at 6:30 against Wesley College.